How long can you leave your washing in the machine for?

It happens to the best of us: you put on a load of washing and forget all about it.

So how long can you leave wet washing in your washing machine for?

While some people will cringe at the idea of leaving wet clothes in the machine too long, or even overnight, Martha Stewart says this is perfectly fine.

"I would say that was perfectly alright," she told TODAY. "I mean don't leave it for a long time ... don't leave it for a week. If you get up in the morning and throw it in the dryer, it should probably be OK."

Real Simple has the same attitude towards wet washing, asking, "what’s the worst that could happen?"

Just make sure your laundry passes the smell test first.

"One way you can kind of tell is if it smells alright," says Martha. "Thatmouldand that bacteria that starts to grow on damp clothes and environments, that's very pungent."